Commodity packets



y 1959 R. w. HOAG 2,895,606

. COMMODITY PACKETS Filed Sept. 25; 1956 Jizmzi? 2,895,606 coMMonrrYPACKETS Roderick W. Hoag, Melrose, Mass.

Application September 25, 1956, Serial No. dllfiiiii 1 Claim. (Cl.206-56) This invention relates to commodity packets.

The invention is more particularly concerned with novel packets formeasured volumes of tea or sugar and which is particularly characterizedin its ability to retain a relatively flat condition prior to use and toassume a substantial expanded condition upon use thereof.

Packets for commodities such as tea and sugar have heretofore been inthe form of envelopes wherein the enveloped commodities were in a singlemass distributed throughout the areas of the packets.

Such packets as now in use, particularly for tea, have confined thecontents to a single rather compacted mass with the result that whendeposited in hot water, seepage is relatively slow with a resultingrelatively long time interval required in the making of tea, and ofttimes without securing advantage of the full flavor of the mass of tea.

In the present envelope type of packet for sugar, the contents are alsoin a single mass distributed over the area of the narrow envelope withthe result that when the envelope is opened and insufliciently widemouth is afforded for rapid dispensing of the sugar from the envelope.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a packetfor tea, sugar or other commodities which comprises an envelope ofnormally relatively flat form and which includes a plurality ofintercomrnunicating cells which expand upon placing same in liquid ortearing off an end thereof, for maximum seepage when the contents is teaand for maximum pouring efficiency when the contents is sugar.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision ofa commodity packet including a flat rectangular backing lay-er and arectangular fluted layer having its margins secured to the backing layerwith the provision of a plurality of commodity cells, and wherein theflutes inwardly of said margins are free of the backing layer for readyexpansion of the cells.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent inthe course of the following detailed description taken in connectionwith he accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a fragmental plan viewof a preformed composite strip from which the individual packets areformed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the strip of Fig. 1 asobserved in the plane of line 22 thereon.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a tea packet after same has expanded underaction of liquid seepage therethrough.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a completed packet in which is packaged aheavy material.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view of a preformed strip which is providedwith a weakened tear line adjacent and parallel to one edge thereof.

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a packet constructed from the strip ofFig. 5 and wherein a packet opening strip is being torn away on the saidtear line.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates P Patented July21, 1959 a fragment of a composite strip which is formed by the methodand machine disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 611,821,filedconcurrently herewith and which has eventuated into Patent No.2,826,020. The strip as indicated in Fig. 2 comprises a backing layer 11and a heat-scalable layer 12. which in accordance with the saidco-pending application is transversely corrugated or fluted with theflutes opening inwardly and being in spaced groups and with the spacingbetween the groups being greater than the spacing between the individualflutes in each group thereof, the flutes being designated 13 on thedrawing.

The packets as set forth in said co-pending application are formed upontransverse severance of the strip 10 intermediate the flute groups andas indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, each packet comprises a backing layer11, a layer 12 having opposite side margins thereof heat sealed as at 14to the backing layer and having the other opposite side margins thereofcrimp sealed to the backing layer as at 14", and the layer 12 of thepacket is provided with a group of flutes 13 which are free of thebacking layer within the above referred to sealed margins. While thepacket is shown as comprising three cell or packet forming flutes, it isnot limited thereto.

it is to be particularly observed that a salient feature of theinvention is the freedom of connection of the layer 12 with the backinglayer ill at the bases of the flutes l3 inwardly of the marginalconnection of layer 12 with the backing layer 11, whereby the cells orpockets C defined by the flutes 13 in association with the backing layer11 are free to expand.

The sectional structure shown in Fig. 3 is that of a tea packet andwhich has been subjected to the action of a liquid with the resultingexpansion of the cells or pockets C into a substantially large singlepocket C whereby the liquid seepage through the mass to tea T is ofmaximum effectiveness in the extraction of the flavor from the tea. Thesection shown in Fig. 3 is of course substantially in the plane of line2-2 on Fig. 1 and the opposite ends of the flutes 13 or pockets C willof course be retained to some extent.

in Fig. 4 is shown a packet filled with a heavy commodity. Regardless,however, of the character of the commodity, the packets will present asubstantially flat form adapting them to economical packaging inrelatively large containers.

The package shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is adapted for use with sugar andwherein same is provided with a weakened tear line 15 for severance of astrip S as indicated in Fig. 6 and upon which severance the severalpockets or cells C open up into a single relatively wide pouring mouth Mfor easy and rapid dispensing of the sugar contents.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specificstructural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrativeonly, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined inthe subjoined claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by US. Letters Patent is:

A commodity packet comprising a rectangular backing layer, and a secondrectangular layer superposed on said backing layer and having a pair ofopposed margins thereof heat-sealed to the corresponding margins of saidbacking layer, and a second pair of opposed margins of the second layerbeing crimp-sealed to the backing layer, said second layer beingprovided with a plurality of cellforming flutes opening toward saidbacking layer and free of connection therewith, inwardly of saidheat-sealed and crimp-sealed margins, said flutes being of relativelysmall uniform transverse dimensions and having their outermost points ina plane parallel with said backing layer, thereby providing a pocket ofgenerally flat form for facilitating packaging thereof in containers,and a tear line intersecting said fluates adjacent the correspondingends thereof for the ready severance of the corresponding end portionsof said layers and permitting the discharge of a relatively largevfilume of a commodity from within all of said flutes,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSEastman June 22, 1869 Lorenz Jan. 5, 1892 Graham Dec. 3, 1918 FergusonAug. 30, 1932 Hoag Feb. 28, 1950 Smith Ian. 16, 1951

